Italien-style Beet Sauce 

2-4 cloves garlic
1 cup diced onions
3 cups diced buttercup squash
1 cup diced beet root
1/4 tsp salt
3 1/2 cups water or stock
2 tblsp tamari or soy sauce
1 tblsp Italian herb blend (sage, marjoram, rosemary, basil, oregano, thyme) 
1 tblsp arrowroot powder
1/2 cup water

Place first six ingredients in a heavy pot. Cover, bring to a boil and
simmer 30-40 minutes, until vegetables are soft. Puree in a food
processor or blender. Return to pot and add tamari and herbs. 

Dissolve arrowroot in 1/2 cup of water. Stir this into sauce. Bring
sauce back to boil, stirring constantly as arrowroot thickens. Simmer
10 minutes to blend flavors. Add more water if too thick, or cook down
with pot uncovered if too thin.